Forensic Fire Debris Investigation Standards
Standards for the forensic investigation of fire debris describe the procedures involved in the analysis of fire debris samples, vapors, and residues, as well as the terminology and definitions underlying those procedures. Such standardization promotes consistency both within a single laboratory, and across different facilities, lending credibility to the results that are produced. Forensic fire debris investigation standards include the standard practices for the separation, concentration, sampling, and preservation of evidence from fire debris samples. Additionally, standards for reaction-to-fire tests are included, serving as a different perspective on the same problems that offers fresh insights.
ASTM E1386-15
Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction
1.1 This practice covers the procedure for removing small quantities of ignitable liquid residue from samples of fire debris using solvent to extract the residue. 1.2 This practice is suitable for successfully extracting ignitable liquid residues over a wide range of concentrations. 1.3 Alternate separation and concentration procedures are listed in the referenced documents (Practices E1388 , E1412 , E1413 , and E2154 ). 1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment. 1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific hazard statement, see 5.5 .
ASTM E1388-17
Standard Practice for Static Headspace Sampling of Vapors from Fire Debris Samples
1.1 This practice describes the procedure for removing vapor from the headspace of a fire debris container for the purpose of detecting or identifying ignitable liquid residues. 1.2 Separation and concentration procedures are listed in the referenced documents. (See Practices E1386 , E1412 , E1413 , and E2154 .) 1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment. 1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ASTM E1412-19
Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Activated Charcoal
1.1 This practice describes the procedure for separation of small quantities of ignitable liquid residues from samples of fire debris using an adsorbent material to extract the residue from the static headspace above the sample, then eluting the adsorbent with a solvent. 1.2 While this practice is suitable for successfully extracting ignitable liquid residues over the entire range of concentration, the headspace concentration methods are best used when a high level of sensitivity is required due to a very low concentration of ignitable liquid residues in the sample. 1.2.1 Unlike other methods of separation and concentration, this practice is essentially nondestructive. 1.3 Alternate separation and concentration procedures are listed in the referenced documents (see Practices E1386 , E1388 , E1413 , and E2154 ). 1.4 This practice does not replace knowledge, skill, ability, experience, education, or training and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. 1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ASTM E1618-19
Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
1.1 This test method covers the identification of residues of ignitable liquids in extracts from fire debris samples. Extraction procedures are described in the referenced documents. 1.2 Although this test method is suitable for all samples, it is especially appropriate for extracts that contain high background levels of substrate materials or pyrolysis and combustion products. This test method is also suitable for the identification of single compounds, simple mixtures, or non-petroleum based ignitable liquids. 1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.4 This practice cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment. 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ASTM E2154-15a
Standard Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)
1.1 This practice describes the procedure for removing small quantities of ignitable liquid residues from samples of fire debris. An adsorbent material is used to extract the residue from the static headspace above the sample. Then, analytes are thermally desorbed in the injection port of the gas chromatograph (GC). 1.2 This practice is best suited for screening fire debris samples to assess relative ignitable liquid concentration and for extracting ignitable liquid from aqueous samples. 1.3 This practice is suitable for extracting ignitable liquid residues when a high level of sensitivity is required due to a very low concentration of ignitable liquid residues in the sample. 1.4 Alternate separation and concentration procedures are listed in Section 2 . 1.5 This standard cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment. 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ASTM E2451-21
Standard Practice for Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residue Extracts from Fire Debris Samples
1.1 This standard covers procedures for the preservation of ignitable liquids and ignitable liquid residue extracts obtained from fire debris samples and questioned ignitable liquid samples. Extraction procedures are described in Section 2 , Referenced Documents. 1.2 Specific evaluation of this practice is limited to the preservation of gasoline and diesel fuel ( 1- 4 ) , 2 the components of which together span the range of chemical classes and volatility of ignitable liquid residues commonly encountered in fire debris samples. 1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ISO 13785-1:2002
Reaction-to-fire tests for facades - Part 1: Intermediate-scale test
ISO 13785-1:2002 specifies a screening method for determining the reaction to fire of materials and constructions of fa ades or claddings when exposed to heat from a simulated external fire with flames impinging directly upon a fa ade. It is intended for use by producers to reduce the burden of testing in ISO 13785-2:2002 by eliminating those systems that fail the tests described in ISO 13785-1:2002. The test method consists of observing the behaviour of the fa ade panel construction to fire and the resulting flame spread on or within the fa ade construction. This test method is applicable only to fa ades and claddings that are not free standing and that are used by adding to an existing external wall. This test method also is applicable only to vertical elements and is not applicable to determining the structural strength of the fa ade or cladding.
ISO 13785-2:2002
Reaction-to-fire tests for facades - Part 2: Large-scale test
ISO 13785-2:2002 specifies a method of test for determining the reaction to fire of materials and construction of fa ade claddings when exposed to heat and flames from a simulated interior compartment fire with flames emerging through a window opening and impinging directly on the fa ade. The information generated from this test may also be applicable to the scenario of an external fire impinging on a fa ade; however, the results may not be applicable for all fire exposure conditions. This method is applicable only to fa ades and claddings that are non-loadbearing. No attempt is made to determine the structural strength of the fa ade or cladding. This test is not intended to determine the fire behaviour of a given building fa ade. Details such as balconies, windows, window shutters, curtains, etc., are not considered in this test. This test does not include the risk of fire spread e.g. through the window details of the fa ade system as it only is constructed as a fa ade wall. There is clear evidence that an internal corner (also called a re-entrant corner) configuration produces a more intense fire exposure than a flat fa ade. The most commonly encountered internal re-entrant corner is with an angle of 90 . The test fa ade specimen therefore contains an internal corner with a re-entrant angle of 90 . The test method described is intended to evaluate the inclusion of combustible components within fa ades and claddings of buildings which are otherwise of non-combustible construction.
NFPA 921-2021
NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
NFPA 921 sets the bar for scientific-based investigation and analysis of fire and explosion incidents. Referenced in the field, in training, and in court, it is the foremost guide for rendering accurate opinions as to incident origin, cause, responsibility, and prevention. It is intended for use by both public sector employees who are responsible for fire investigation and private sector professionals who conduct investigations for insurance companies or litigation purposes._x000D_ _x000D_ Please note: This Standard is in a custom cycle due to the Emergency Response and Responder Safety Document Consolidation Plan (consolidation plan) as approved by the NFPA Standards Council. For revision cycle information, see the Next Edition tab.
NFPA 921-2021
NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
NFPA 921 sets the bar for scientific-based investigation and analysis of fire and explosion incidents. Referenced in the field, in training, and in court, it is the foremost guide for rendering accurate opinions as to incident origin, cause, responsibility, and prevention. It is intended for use by both public sector employees who are responsible for fire investigation and private sector professionals who conduct investigations for insurance companies or litigation purposes._x000D_ _x000D_ Please note: This Standard is in a custom cycle due to the Emergency Response and Responder Safety Document Consolidation Plan (consolidation plan) as approved by the NFPA Standards Council. For revision cycle information, see the Next Edition tab.
